Improvement in car-axle boxes



UNITED. STATEs nonnn'r' o. BROWN, OFPORTYLAND, onneonm IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-AXLE BOXES Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 209,546, dated November 5, 1878; application filed September 16, 1878.

of Railroad or other Cars, of which the following is a specification:

The object of my invention is to dispense with the packing now employed, and to provide an improved axle-box and bearings for; the axle of railroad or other cars. This 1 accomplish by the combination, in. an axle-box,

of an interior box, D/D, supported upon springs a a. a afand containing the upperbearings, B B, and lower bearings,H, and the thrust-blocks E E and I, with the oil-receptacles O O, the dust-chamber M, the fans c e, the setting-screws b b, and the openings, valves, gages, and other devices, hereinafter more particularly described.

The machine is illustrated in detail in the drawings.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the axlebox, the top only being removed. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, the upper half of the axle-box and the upper bearings, B B, being removed, but with the interior box, D, and axle A in position. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same with the interior box,D, removed. Fig. stis a plan View of the top of the axle-box. Fig. 5 is .a side section, Fig.- 6 an end section, and Fig. 7 a side view, of the entire mechanism of the box when in running order. Fig. 8 is a view of the outside end of the axle-box, the doorN only being removed. l The axle-box is of substantially the shape and form given in the drawings, and is made of any suitable metal, in two principal partstheupperandlower. These principal parts are held togetherbythe boltswW,orothersuitable device, and the division-line between them is represented in Figs. 6, 7, and Sby the line ma. As a part of or in the upper part of the axle-box are made the oil-receptacles G G, of any desired shape or capacity, but so constructed that the upper bearing, B B, the door N being opened, may be withdrawn or replaced without removing the top of the axle-box. The lower part of the axle-box is provided with suitable openings to allow of the escape of refuse oil.

The interior box, D, is so constructed as to fitclosely into the lower portion of the axlebox, and moves freely up and down within it, but in no other direction. The interior box, D, rests upon springs or a a a, attached to or projecting from the bottom of the axle-box.

By these springs the entire interior box, D, is constantly pressed upward- In the bottom of the interior box, D, is inserted the lower bearings, H, of any suitable 1 metal.- The bearing H, being about on alevel withthe bottom of the interior box, D, is con .stantly keptin contact with the axle A by the upward pressure of the springs or a a a.

The upper bearings, B B, support the weight of the car, and are held in position by the sides of the oil-receptacles O O and the sides, top, and

door of the axle-box, as represented in the drawings.

The thrust endwise of the axle is received by the outside thrust-blocks, E E.

kit, in Figs. 4 and 6, show the opening in the top of the axle-box by which oil or other lubricating fluid is passed into the oil-receptacles O 0. When not in use these openings are closed by a nut or other equivalent demac.

9 9 show the openings for the passage of the oil or other lubricating fluid from the oilreceptacles O O to the inside of the interior box, D. g g are kept closed by valves, and are opened and shut at pleasure by means of the rods 7th. (Represented in FigsAandS.) hhproject through thetop or sides of the axle-box, and are covered and protected by a nut or other equivalent device. When the valves are opened the oil or other lubricating fluid passes into and distributes itself over the lower bearing, H, and the bottom of the interior box, D, and is caught up and carried by the revolving axle to all the bearings requiring lubrication. 'ii, in Figs. 1 and 8, are glass tubes or gages suitably protected and placed in any desired posi= tion on the outside of the axle=box. They are connected directly with the oil receptacles O G, and serve to indicate the amount of oil or other lubricating fluid in the receptacles C O.

'M is a dust-chamber, that may be made of any desired shape to correspond with the box.

It is attached to the outside of the axle-box,

as represented, around the point of entrance of the axle-shaft A. Attached to the axle, inside of dust-chamber M, are the fans or wings e e, of the proper size and shape. As these revolve with the axle A they cause a current of air ontw ardly and prevent the incoming of the dust.

N-is the lid or door by which access is had to the interior of the axle-box and bearings when in use. It is evident that it may be placed in almost any desired position on the outside end of the axle-box. In Figs. 5 and 8 it is represented as hinged at the bottom, and kept shut by a hook or clasp, u, fastening into the spring 1;.

The heads of the setting-screws b b, bywhich the end-play of the axle is regulated, are shown in Fig. 8. The cog-wheel a is geared into the heads of the setting-screws b b in such a manner as to move them equally forward or back when turned, and they are kept locked in any desired position by the spring and catch m, or

by any other equivalent device.

The opening into the axle-box and dustchamber M at the point of entrance of the axle is made oval, or otherwise so constructed as to allow for the wear of the upper bearings, B B.

' The axle A is represented in the drawings as having a metal collar keyed upon it to increase the surface of the journal-bearings but this is no part of my claim, as it is evident that the mechanism here described will apply to the ordinary axle.

What I claim as my invention is 1. The combination, with an axle-box for railroad or other cars, substantially as described, of the dust-chamber M and fans or wings e e.

2. The combination, substantially as described, in an axle-box for railroad or other cars, of the oil-receptacles O O, the openings 9 g and k, the rod h, and the gages i i.

3. The combination, substantially as described, in axle-boxes for railroad or other cars, of the oil-receptacles (J O, the openings 9 g and k, the rod h, and the gages iiwith the interior box, D, the springs a a a a, the

ROBERT CHARLES BROWN.

Witnesses:

THOMAS NELSON STRONG, FREDERICK R. STRONG. 

